Indicia-reader having unitary-construction

ABSTRACT

A hand-held indicia-reading device includes a housing and a cable having a unitary-construction. The indicia-reader has a head portion with an indicia-reading system including a printed circuit board. The entire handle portion of the reader is typically over-molded onto a host-connector cable. The host-connector cable includes a circuit board connector on one end and a connector for connecting to a host at an opposite end extending from a base portion of the handle.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/185,476 for an Indicia-Reader Having Unitary-Constructionfiled Jun. 17, 2016 (and published Oct. 6, 2016 as U.S. PatentPublication No. 2016/0292479), now U.S. Pat. No. 9,697,403, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/150,393 for anIndicia-Reader Having Unitary-Construction filed Jan. 8, 2014 (andpublished Jul. 9, 2015 as U.S. Patent Publication No. 2015/0193645), nowU.S. Pat. No. 9,373,018. Each of the foregoing patent applications,patent publications, and patents is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of indicia-readers and, morespecifically, to hand-held indicia-readers having a unibody handle thatsurrounds an integrated cable.

BACKGROUND

Hand-held indicia-reading devices such as hand-held mobile computers andbar code scanners are used in numerous environments for variousapplications (e.g., hospitals, warehouses, delivery vehicles, etc.). Forexample, a large percentage of retailers, notably grocery stores andgeneral consumer merchandisers, rely on barcode technology to improvethe efficiency and reliability of the checkout process.

Many kinds of hand-held indicia-reading devices utilize a traditionalgun-shaped design (e.g., form factor). During the retail checkoutprocess, for instance, a gun-style hand-held indicia-reader is generallyused by the cashier to provide additional flexibility (e.g., for couponchecking, loyalty card scanning, or shopping cart scanning). Thegun-shaped form factor provides an indicia-reader that is easy to handleand use for intensive hand-held scanning.

One of the design challenges of hand-held indicia-readers, includingthose having a traditional gun-shaped form factor, is that the reader'sshape does not lend itself to easily placing all electronics, includingconnectors, onto a single printed circuit board (PCB). This is becausethe scanning electronics typically reside in the top portion of theindicia-reader (i.e., the head) while the host connection point isgenerally located at the bottom of the handle. Accordingly, this kind ofdesign often requires the use of an internal cable that electricallyconnects the host connector to the PCB containing the electronics.

The requirement of an internal cable to electrically connect the hostconnector to the PCB results in a number of disadvantages. For instance,the addition of the internal cable adds to the overall cost of theindicia-reader. The internal cable also provides a potential failurepoint during the life of the product.

Furthermore, the handle of a traditional hand-held indicia-reader istypically a complicated mechanical part that has both plastic and rubberindividual components that must be assembled. These individualmechanical parts increase costs associated with designing andmanufacturing the indicia-reader. As one example, a mechanical part atthe host connection point (i.e., a handle's end cap) is often requiredto complete the handle assembly.

Manufacturing the handle may also require more complex tooling includinga secondary over-mold process. These additional steps likewise increasecosts.

Moreover, because host cable may be subjected to high instances offlexing, the cable typically requires a strain relief at the base of thehandle.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, in one aspect, the present invention embraces anindicia-reading device that can include an indicia-capturing subsystemfor acquiring information about indicia within the indicia-capturingsubsystem's field of view and an indicia-decoding subsystem configuredfor decoding indicia information acquired by the indicia-capturingsubsystem. The indicia-reading device can also include ahand-supportable housing having a head portion and an adjacent handleportion, wherein (i) the head portion substantially encloses theindicia-capturing subsystem and the indicia-decoding subsystem, and (ii)the handle is formed as a unitary-construction.

In an exemplary embodiment, the indicia-reading device may include ahost-connector cable, the host-connector cable being integrated into andsurrounded by the hand-supportable housing's unitary-constructionhandle.

In another exemplary embodiment, the host-connector cable can have afirst end connector at an upper portion of the handle and a second endconnector at a base portion of the handle.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the indicia-capturing subsystem caninclude a printed circuit board operatively connected to electro-opticalcomponents.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first end connector can beoperatively connected to the printed circuit board.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second end connector can beoperatively connected to a host.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the host can be a computer.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the hand-supportable housing's headportion can be removably connected to the hand-supportable housing'sunitary-construction handle.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the hand-supportable housing'sunitary-construction handle can be an injection-molded handle.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the hand-supportable housing'sunitary-construction handle can be a blow-molded handle.

In another aspect, the present invention embraces an indicia-readingdevice that can include a hand-supportable housing. The hand-supportablehousing can include a head portion and an adjacent handle portion. Thehead portion at least partially encloses an indicia-capturing system.The indicia-capturing system can include (i) an indicia-capturingsubsystem for acquiring information about indicia within theindicia-capturing subsystem's field of view, and (ii) anindicia-decoding subsystem configured for decoding indicia informationacquired by the indicia-capturing subsystem. The handle portion canphysically integrate a host connector cable forming a single part.

In an exemplary embodiment, the host-connector cable can have a firstend connector at an upper portion of the handle and a second endconnector at a base portion of the handle.

In another exemplary embodiment, the indicia-capturing system caninclude a printed circuit board operatively connected to electro-opticalcomponents

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the first end connector can beoperatively connected to the printed circuit board.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the second end connector can beoperatively connected to a host.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the host can be a handheldcomputer.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the head portion can be removablyattached to the handle portion.

In yet another exemplary embodiment, the head portion can be removablyattached to the handle portion by fasteners.

In another aspect, the present invention embraces a method for readingindicia. The method can include providing an indicia-reading device thatincludes (i) an indicia-capturing subsystem for acquiring informationabout indicia within the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view,(ii) an indicia-decoding subsystem configured for decoding indiciainformation acquired by the indicia-capturing subsystem, (iii) ahand-supportable housing having a head portion and an adjacent handleportion, wherein the head portion substantially encloses theindicia-capturing subsystem and the indicia-decoding subsystem and thehandle is formed as a unitary-construction, and (iv) a host-connectorcable, the host-connector cable being integrated into and surrounded bythe hand-supportable housing's unitary-construction handle. The methodcan further include operatively connecting the host-connector cable to ahost and using the indicia-reading device to acquire indiciainformation.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method for reading indicia can furtherinclude communicating the indicia information from the indicia-readingdevice to the host via the host-connector cable.

The foregoing illustrative summary, as well as other exemplaryobjectives and/or advantages of the invention, and the manner in whichthe same are accomplished, are further explained within the followingdetailed description and its accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a typical hand-held indicia-reader.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective exploded view of a typical hand-heldindicia-reader.

FIG. 3 depicts the handle portion of an exemplary hand-heldindicia-reader according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary hand-held indicia-readeraccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention embraces indicia-readers. In particular, thepresent invention embraces hand-held indicia-readers having a unibodyhandle (i.e., the handle is formed as a unitary-construction).

The term indicia as used herein is intended to refer broadly to varioustypes of machine-readable indicia, including barcodes, QR codes, matrixcodes, 1D codes, 2D codes, RFID tags, characters, etc. The indicia aretypically graphical representations of information (e.g., data) such asproduct numbers, package tracking numbers, or personnel identificationnumbers. The use of indicia-readers to input data into a system, ratherthan manual data entry, results in generally faster and more reliabledata entry.

One exemplary type of hand-held indicia-reader that can include ahousing that is directly integrated with a cable is a gun-stylehand-held indicia-reader. References herein to particular kinds ofdevices or device environments, however, are not intended to limit thedisclosure to particular devices, and those having ordinary skill in theart will recognize that a number of different devices might be employed.

The exemplary hand-held indicia-readers of the present invention providemanufacturing efficiencies and cost savings by eliminating the need formany individual mechanical parts that are typically required whenmanufacturing indicia-reader housings. The resulting hand-heldindicia-readers are simpler and less expensive to make. These advantagesare illustrated (below) in comparing a typical hand-held indicia-reader(FIGS. 1 and 2) with an exemplary hand-held indicia-reader of thepresent invention (FIGS. 3 and 4).

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a typical hand-heldindicia-reader (i.e., a hand-held scanner). Specifically, FIG. 1 depictsa typical gun-style hand-held indicia-reader 100. The indicia-reader 100includes a hand-supportable housing 102 having a handle portion 102A.

The hand-held scanner's housing 102 has a head portion 102B thatincludes a light transmission window 103 within the housing's headportion 102B.

An indicia-reading system 107 may be enclosed within the head portion102B. In some instances, the indicia-reading system 107 may includelaser scanning subsystems (i.e., indicia-capturing subsystems) thatsweep light beams (e.g., a laser beam) across a scan path (i.e., a fieldof view) and then receive the optical signals that reflect or scatteroff the indicium. Typically, the optical signal is received using aphotoreceptor (i.e., photodiode) and is converted into an electricalsignal. The electrical signal is an electronic representation of theindicia information (e.g., the data represented by the indicia). When inthe form of an electrical signal, this information can be processed(i.e., decoded) by an indicia-decoding subsystem.

In other instances, the indicia-reading system 107 may include imagingsubsystems or some combination of imaging subsystems and laser scanningsubsystems (i.e., indicia-capturing subsystems). The imaging subsystemcaptures digital images of objects within the subsystem's field of view.When the indicia information takes the form of a digital image, theindicia information is typically processed by an indicia-decodingsubsystem through the use of image-processing software (e.g., opticalcharacter recognition (OCR) technology), which can both identify thepresence of indicia in the digital image and decode the indicia.

A manually actuated trigger switch 104 may be depressed to activate theindicia-reading system 107 (i.e., the scanning module).

The base structure 102C of the hand-held scanner's housing may include acable strain relief 109 and an external host connector cable 105B. Theexternal host connector cable 105B (e.g., a USB cable) can be used as abus for connection, communication, and power supply between the reader100 and a host 115 (e.g., a computer).

FIG. 2 depicts an exploded view of a typical gun-style indicia-reader100. The hand-supportable housing 102 includes left and right handlehalves 102A1 and 102A2; a foot-like end-cap structure 102C1 that ismounted between the handle halves 102A1 and 102A2; a trigger switch 104that snap fits within and pivots within a pair of spaced apart aperturesprovided in the housing halves; a light transmission window panel 103Athrough which light transmission window 103 is formed and supportedwithin a recess formed by handle halves 102A1 and 102A2; and a top headportion 102B1 enclosing the head portion 102B of the housing.

The head portion 102B of the housing includes a printed circuit board(PCB) 106 operatively connected to the electro-optical components ofindicia-reading system 107.

An internal host-connector cable 105A attaches to the reader 100 via ahost connector (i.e., a flexible printed circuit) that connects to thePCB 106. When the gun-style reader 100 is assembled, the internalhost-connector cable 105A exits through base cap 102C1. A strain relief109 for the cable is provided where the internal host-connector cable105A transitions to an external host-connector cable 105B. Strain relief109 is typically necessary because the region of the cable exiting thebase cap 102C is often subject to high instances of flexing. Thehost-connector cable 105B can be used for communicating with a host 115(e.g., a computer) and for supplying power.

In contrast with the typical hand-held indicia-reader shown at FIGS. 1and 2, an exemplary hand-held indicia-reader 200 of the presentinvention is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. As depicted in FIG. 3, thehandle portion 202A of the hand-held indicia-reader 200 has aunitary-construction (i.e., a unibody formed handle), typicallyover-molded onto the host-connector cable 205 (e.g., a USB cable) by aninjection molding process (i.e., a process where one material is moldedonto another material). Other processes for forming the unibody handlemay also be used (e.g., blow-molding). The cable 205 includes a PCBconnector 208 and a connector 209 for connecting to a host (e.g., acomputer).

The trigger 204, shown with the handle portion 202A in FIG. 3, may be aseparate component from the handle portion 202A. The trigger 204 may beaffixed to the handle portion 202A by installing the trigger 204 fromthe top side of the cable-integrated handle 202A.

The exemplary handle portion 202A has the advantage of significantlyreducing the number of parts used in the typical reader assembly 100 asillustrated in FIG. 2. Accordingly, both part costs and manufacturingtime are reduced. An additional benefit of cable-integrated handle 202Ais a reduced risk that the internal cable will fail during the life ofthe indicia-reader.

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of an exemplary hand-held indicia-reader200 according to the present invention. When assembled, the exemplaryindicia-reader 200 resembles the typical gun-style reader 100 of FIG. 1.

Hand-held reader 200 includes a head portion 202B having a lighttransmission window 203. An indicia-reading system 207 is enclosedwithin the head portion 202B. Indicia-reading system 207 may beimplemented as described with reference to indicia-reading system 107.Moreover, head portion 202B includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 206operatively connected to the electro-optical components ofindicia-reading system 207.

The head portion 202B may be designed as an assembly that can beremovably attached to the handle portion 202A by fasteners 210 (e.g.,threaded fasteners, clamps, clips, pins, etc.). In this regard, thehandle 202A and trigger 204 portions may attach to the head portion 202Bby way of a mating mechanism for any number of scanner head types havingvarious functionalities (e.g., 2D, laser, linear imager, long range,DPM, etc.). Therefore, a user wishing to switch scanner types couldchoose the appropriate head device for the desired purpose rather thanchoosing another complete indicia-reader.

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In the specification and/or figures, typical embodiments andenvironments of the invention have been disclosed. The present inventionis not limited to such exemplary embodiments. The use of the term“and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of theassociated listed items. The figures are schematic representations andso are not necessarily drawn to scale. Unless otherwise noted, specificterms have been used in a generic and descriptive sense and not forpurposes of limitation.

1. An indicia-reading device, comprising: one or more interchangeablescanning heads; a handle removably attached to at least one of thescanning heads via a mating mechanism; wherein the handle physicallyintegrates and surrounds a portion of a host-connector cable forming asingle part, the host-connector cable having at least one connector end;and wherein the at least one connector end of the host-connector cableextends from an upper portion of the handle.
 2. The indicia-readingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the host-connector cable has afirst end connector at an upper portion of the handle and a second endconnector at a base portion of the handle.
 3. The indicia-reading deviceaccording to claim 1, further comprising an indicia-capturing systemcomprising a printed circuit board operatively connected toelectro-optical components.
 4. The indicia-reading device according toclaim 2, wherein the first end connector is operatively connected to theprinted circuit board.
 5. The indicia-reading device according to claim2, wherein the second end connector is operatively connected to a host.6. The indicia-reading device according to claim 5, wherein the host isa computer.
 7. The indicia-reading device according to claim 1, whereinthe handle is attached to the at least one scanning head via a matingmechanism, wherein the mating mechanism comprises fasteners, threadedfasteners, clamps, clips, and/or pins.
 8. The indicia-reading deviceaccording to claim 3, wherein the indicia-capturing subsystem comprisesa laser-scanning subsystem and/or an imaging subsystem.
 9. A method ofmanufacturing an indicia-reading device, comprising: forming a handleportion as a unitary-construction, wherein the handle integrates andsurrounds a portion of a host-connector cable such that at least oneconnector end of the host-connector cable extends from an upper portionof the handle; and attaching one of a plurality of interchangeablescanning heads to the handle portion via a mating mechanism.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the handle portion is formed byover-molding the handle portion onto the portion of the host-connectorcable.
 11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the handle portionis injection-molded onto the portion of the host-connector cable. 12.The method according to claim 9, wherein the handle portion isblow-molded onto the portion of the host-connector cable.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 9, wherein the mating mechanism comprises fasteners,threaded fasteners, clamps, clips, and/or pins.
 14. The method accordingto claim 9, further comprising attaching a first end connector to afirst end of the host-connector cable at an upper portion of the handleand a second end connector to a second end of the host-connector cableat a base portion of the handle.
 15. The method according to claim 9,further comprising providing a print circuit board (PCB) in the scanninghead and operatively connecting the PCB to electro-optical components.16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising operativelyconnecting the first end connector to a printed circuit board.
 17. Themethod according to claim 14, further comprising operatively connectingthe second end connector to a host.
 18. The method according to claim 9,further comprising: providing, within the scanning head, anindicia-capturing subsystem for acquiring information about indiciawithin the indicia-capturing subsystem's field of view; and providing,within the scanning head, an indicia-decoding subsystem configured fordecoding indicia information acquired by the indicia-capturingsubsystem.
 19. The method according to claim 18, wherein theindicia-capturing subsystem comprises a laser-scanning subsystem and/oran imaging subsystem.
 20. A method for reading indicia, comprising:selecting a scanning head from a plurality of interchangeable scanningheads; attaching the scanning head to a handle portion of anindicia-reading device, wherein the handle is formed as aunitary-construction that integrates and surrounds a portion of ahost-connector cable having at least one connector end, and the at leastone connector end extending from the handle; operatively connecting thehost-connector cable to a host; and using the indicia-reading device toacquire indicia information.